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Published on: January 5, 2012
Dendritic cell behaviour in vivo: lessons learned from intravital two-photon microscopy
Lois L Cavanagh1, Wolfgang Weninger
1Immune Imaging Program, Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
Intravital two-photon microscopy reveals dendritic cell (DC) behavior in real-time within tissues. This technique visualizes DC migration and interactions with immune cells in intact organs, offering dynamic insights into immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are key regulators of immune responses.
- Traditional methods like ex vivo analysis and immunohistology offer static views of DC function.
- A need exists to study DC behavior in intact tissues dynamically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on dendritic cell behavior using intravital two-photon microscopy.
- To understand DC migration and interactions within tissues in real-time.
Main Methods:
- Intravital two-photon microscopy allows real-time visualization of single cells deep within intact organs.
- This technique enables dynamic observation of dendritic cells.
Main Results:
- Two-photon microscopy has generated new data on DC behavior in lymphoid and peripheral tissues.
- Studies reveal DC migration patterns in the interstitial space.
- Interactions between DCs and adaptive immune cells are visualized.
Conclusions:
- Intravital two-photon microscopy provides dynamic insights into dendritic cell function.
- This advanced imaging technique enhances understanding of immune cell behavior in situ.
Abstract:
Dendritic cells (DC) are central regulators of immune responses. Their functional characterization has, thus far, mainly relied on the analysis of ex vivo isolated cells or immunohistology, which provides information in a static manner. While these approaches have enabled an excellent understanding of the role of DC in antigen uptake, processing and presentation, there has been a clear need to investigate the behaviour of DC in the context of intact tissues in real time. This demand has recently been met by the availability of intravital two-photon microscopy, which allows for the visualization of single cells deep within intact organs over time. Thus, during the past few years, exciting new data have been generated as to how DC behave within secondary lymphoid and peripheral tissues both under homoeostatic and inflammatory conditions. Here, we will review what two-photon microscopy studies have taught us about the migration of DC in the interstitial space as well as their interactions with adaptive immune cells.
